Base Case - First 2026 53-Man Roster

[Zuma]

Bravo! Excellent post 40! This here is spot on.. could not agree more!

Are you saying you liked the post?

 

[Real fan 02]

Are you saying you liked the post?

How could you tell?

 

[hornetfb85]

Sure, but we are greatly improved at the safety position.

We have replaced Hawkins ith Byard.

Woodson has a year of experience.

We have brought back incumbent #3 safety Pettus.

We have brought in Brown and Saunders to compete for a possible #4 S/ST position.

Also, I believe a couple of the draftees can play emergency reps at safety since they have played that postiion in the past.

Agree completely. Just thought another guy that could step up in the short term as well as being a long term answer

 

[mgteich]

James Hudson will make this team over Marcus Bryant.
There, I said it.

So, you think that Hudson will tale Bryan't PS spot?

Our four OT's are Campbell, Moses, Lomu and Crownover

 

[mgteich]

Looking at the net differences since our January run (just the significant ones):

Edge: Jones via FA, Jacas via draft, Landry from IR; no Chaisson = big upgrade
Safety: Byard via FA; no Hawkins = upgrade
Tackle: Lomu & Crownover via draft, healthier Campbell; no Lowe & Mumford = upgrade
Center: moved Wilson to C, no Bradbury = upgrade
Guard: Vera-Tucker via FA, instead of Wilson = big upgrade
TE: Hill via FA, Raridon via draft; no Hooper = big upgrade
RB: Jam Miller via draft, Gilliam via FA, Larison from IR = big upgrade
WR: Doubs via FA; no Diggs = upgrade (+ possible AJ Brown)
DT: lost Tonga = slight downgrade
ILB: slight downgrade
QB, CB, ST's = about the same

I do think that the downgrade from Tonka to Gregory is more than slight. Ditto regarding Gibbens to Britt.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I do think that the downgrade from Tonka to Gregory is more than slight. Ditto regarding Gibbens to Britt.

Muma was a R3 pick, Britt a R5 pick. Both have bounced around a bit. Muma has been here longer and is more athletic, so I expect he is the Gibbons replacement.

 

[mike_usagisan]

What about Metz? He's the international exception spot. Or is that a practice squad spot now?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Looking at the net differences since our January run (just the significant ones):

Edge: Jones via FA, Jacas via draft, Landry from IR; no Chaisson = big upgrade
Safety: Byard via FA; no Hawkins = upgrade
Tackle: Lomu & Crownover via draft, healthier Campbell; no Lowe & Mumford = upgrade
Center: moved Wilson to C, no Bradbury = upgrade
Guard: Vera-Tucker via FA, instead of Wilson = big upgrade
TE: Hill via FA, Raridon via draft; no Hooper = big upgrade
RB: Jam Miller via draft, Gilliam via FA, Larison from IR = big upgrade
WR: Doubs via FA; no Diggs = upgrade (+ possible AJ Brown)
DT: lost Tonga = slight downgrade
ILB: slight downgrade
QB, CB, ST's = about the same

I actually think QB and ST will take a moderate step forward this year. DT and ILB is far more worrying to me than you.

 

[mgteich]

Muma was a R3 pick, Britt a R5 pick. Both have bounced around a bit. Muma has been here longer and is more athletic, so I expect he is the Gibbons replacement.

fair enough

In any case, Britt should make the 53

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

In any case, Britt should make the 53

Maybe with an injury. I would say 50/50 at best.

 

[Real fan 02]

I actually think QB and ST will take a moderate step forward this year. DT and ILB is far more worrying to me than you.

At DT depth you have Davis, Gregory, farmer.. all 3 played well last season. Farmer was coming on then he got an ankle injury last season.. Davis is solid! At LB your starters are healthy entering the season.. add in Obiazor and a mix of depth with Muma and Britt.. unless we add.. say Devin white.. probably the guys we are starting the season with.

 

[mgteich]

At DT depth you have Davis, Gregory, farmer.. all 3 played well last season. Farmer was coming on then he got an ankle injury last season.. Davis is solid! At LB your starters are healthy entering the season.. add in Obiazor and a mix of depth with Muma and Britt.. unless we add.. say Devin white.. probably the guys we are starting the season with.

Do you mean Durden rather then Davis?

 

[BTTA]

A 33 year old who has a hard time getting open who has played on 5 teams I the past 5 years.

Nope.
He's a shoe out.

 

[Real fan 02]

Do you mean Durden rather then Davis?

Correct Durden.. don't know what I was thinking Davis..our DT depth is probably the deepest in the NFL we have a nice rotation of of guys at the position.

 

[mgteich]

Correct Durden.. don't know what I was thinking Davis..our DT depth is probably the deepest in the NFL we have a nice rotation of of guys at the position.

hmm
deepest DT depth in the NFL?

I disagree. We don't have a good NFL starter at NT, never mind one of the best backups in the NFL. Gregory needs to gain some weight to be even thought of as a NT. The backups are all around 300, way too light.

Starters: Williams, Barmore, Durden
Backups: Gregory, Farmer, Taylor

or Williams, Gregory, Barmore
Durden, Farmer, Taylor/Blay, Farmer

 

[Real fan 02]

hmm
deepest DT depth in the NFL?

I disagree. We don't have a good NFL starter at NT, never mind one of the best backups in the NFL. Gregory needs to gain some weight to be even thought of as a NT. The backups are all around 300, way too light.

Starters: Williams, Barmore, Durden
Backups: Gregory, Farmer, Taylor

or Williams, Gregory, Barmore
Durden, Farmer, Taylor/Blay, Farmer

As far as depth yes. Not many teams can say they have to much depth on the defensive interior like we have. Go figure all the guys you just listed will all play significant roles and truly we play so many different fronts depending on the package Kurh deploys that they all will be rotating in and out. With an added edge rush the interior should be much more disruptive than 2025..

NFL Defensive Line Rankings This Season By Team | StatMuse

NFL defensive line rankings this season by team

www.statmuse.com

 

[mgteich]

As far as depth yes. Not many teams can say they have to much depth on the defensive interior like we have. Go figure all the guys you just listed will all play significant roles and truly we play so many different fronts depending on the package Kurh deploys that they all will be rotating in and out. With an added edge rush the interior should be much more disruptive than 2025..

NFL Defensive Line Rankings This Season By Team | StatMuse

NFL defensive line rankings this season by team

www.statmuse.com

We simply disagree. We did very, very well with Durden, a PS player that no one wanted who became a starter.
=================
SO YOUR BACKUPS ARE.
I don't consider the 3 a plus. rather, I consider the three one of the weakest set of depth (after ILB).
Gregory and Taylor are players no one else wanted. If they were cut in August, I doubt that anyone would pick them up.

Farmer is OK, but didn't get a chance to show a lot since he got injured.

 

[Real fan 02]

We simply disagree. We did very, very well with Durden, a PS player that no one wanted who became a starter.
=================
SO YOUR BACKUPS ARE.
I don't consider the 3 a plus. rather, I consider the three one of the weakest set of depth (after ILB).
Gregory and Taylor are players no one else wanted. If they were cut in August, I doubt that anyone would pick them up.

Farmer is OK, but didn't get a chance to show a lot since he got injured.

I'm talking specifically about our depth..your thinking starters. I will maintain that we have some of best depth at the position in the league I'd challenge to ask you to find much rosters that have great "depth" beyond the starting players at DT/NT. The position is the deepest on the team.. Durden, Gregory, farmer and you mentioned Taylor as well.. as I mentioned with a boosted pass rush to collapse the pocket the interior guys can be more Impactful. This was sorely lacking last year.

 

[mgteich]

I'm talking specifically about our depth..your thinking starters. I will maintain that we have some of best depth at the position in the league I'd challenge to ask you to find much rosters that have great "depth" beyond the starting players at DT/NT. The position is the deepest on the team.. Durden, Gregory, farmer and you mentioned Taylor as well.. as I mentioned with a boosted pass rush to collapse the pocket the interior guys can be more Impactful. This was sorely lacking last year.

I do like our starters: Williams, Barmore and Durden. Durden was truly an amazing find. You posted that we were the 16th best DL in the league. Of course, that wasn't about backups.
=======================================
Others may be more familiar with backups on other teams. Maybe they have the stats.

I'd be truly amazed if Gregory, Farmer and Taylor were considered anywhere near the top depth in the league. Farmer will be developed for another year. I wouldn't be surprised if Gregory and/or Taylor were replaced at any point.

 

[Real fan 02]

I do like our starters: Williams, Barmore and Durden. Durden was truly an amazing find. You posted that we were the 16th best DL in the league. Of course, that wasn't about backups.
=======================================
Others may be more familiar with backups on other teams. Maybe they have the stats.

I'd be truly amazed if Gregory, Farmer and Taylor were considered anywhere near the top depth in the league. Farmer will be developed for another year. I wouldn't be surprised if Gregory and/or Taylor were replaced at any point.

We agree here after all! Depth guys rarely get the fanfare. However they play a vital role in a contender like we are. Vrabel's touched on this about shoring up the depth especially on defense.

The ranking had alot to do with pressure. We had to scheme up pressure last season because we had no edge rush.. adding the pass rush aids the interior. You collapse the edges and the interior guys can create havoc. Point in case why Houstons defensive line is so Impactful also having the best pass rusher in football will Anderson Jr. Helps!